GV 1471 
.C12 
Copy 1 







Hollinger 

pH8.5 

Mill Run F3-1 955 



GV 1471 
.C12 
Copy 1 



Drawing Room Games 



..XhM Series,*, 



" Autumn Into winter, winter Into spring, 
Spring into summer, summer into fall — 
So rolls the changing year, and so we change; 
Motion so swift, that we know not that ive move." 

— D. M. MuLOCK, The Ininiutable. 



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A GROUP OF INDOOR PASTIMES FOR EVERY SEASON OF 

THE YEAR. COLLECTED AND ARRANGED, WITH 

SOME HISTORICAL NOTES, FOR THE 

READERS OF THE HOME 

LIBRARY 



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Bv J1- fioward c;<idv 



b^^4i ^-'^ 



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Pl'BLISHED BY THE 



AMERICAN SPORTS PUBLISHING COMPANY 



the 

difficu. 
enjoy, mu. 



341 BROADWAY, NEW YORK 



(rYl'f'/i 



3374 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1897, by 

Ihe Amekican Sports Publishing Co., 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at "Washington. 



PREFACE. 

For sports, for pagentrle and playes 
Thou hast thy eves and holidays ; 
Thy wakes, thy quintals, here thou hast 
Thy May-pole, too, with garlands grac'd 
Thy Morris dance ; thy Whitsun ale ; 
Thy shearing feast, which never faile. 
Thy Harvest Home ; thy Wassail bowle, 
That's tost up after Fox-i'-th'-hole ; 
Thy mummeries ; thy tiuelfe-tide kings 
And queens ; thy Christmas revellings. 

— Herrick's Hesperides. 

Every feast day of the year has its special significance, obser- 
vances and diversions, but in this little book it would be 
impossible to try even to enumerate them all. This I shall 
not attempt to do, but choosing the festivals most familiar to 
us, I shall briefly describe them and their various rites and add 
here and there a few games which, having in themselves no 
marked significance, will adapt themselves, not alone to the 
season under discussion, but, for that matter, to any period in 
the twelvemonth. 

To enter properly into the spirit of a game one must lay 
aside for the time being, at least, all association with and 
thought of "carping cares" and other disturbing elements, for 
half-way measures are no more adapted to pleasure than they 
are to work. With the mind distracted from the occupation of 
the moment — be it work or play — by some outside issue, it is 
difficult, well nigh impossible, indeed, to take part in and 
enjoy, much less benefit, by the matter in hand. 



tREFACfi. 

Anything worth doing at all is worth doing well. This trite 
and well-worn saying merits our consideration, for it is founded 
on the solid basis of experience, as all of us Avho have gone 
into anything in a half-hearted way and reaped the conse- 
quences, trifling or great, must know. 

Let us then enter into and enjoy to the full all tiflie pleas- 
ures that come in our way, thereby giving as well ?s receiv- 
ing happiness, for the capacity of making others happy is in 
itself a well-spring of joy. 

November, 1897. A. H. C. 



e^ 



A 



2)rawino IRoom (Barnes. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

Autumn, in his leafless bowers, 
Is waiting for the snow. 

— Whittier's Autzi7iin Thoughts. 

With the approach of winter outdoor sports must, in a meas- 
ure, give way to household pastimes, for with the first fall of 
snow we are driven from the tennis court and off the golf links 
to seek our pleasures within doors. 

True, enthusiastic golfers will "chase the pill," as the 
much-maligned little ball has been dubbed, as long as there is 
the shadow of a chance to pursue and find it. After this comes 
skating, and, though a very popular diversion and unquestion- 
ably a delightful means of exercise, it is not, perhaps, as gen- 
erally indulged in as the summer sports nor quite so universal. 
It stands to reason, therefore, that indoor games must be 
in demand, and in view of the many tastes to be con- 
sulted and gratified, they should be as varied and numerous as 
possible. 

In preceding numbers of the Home Library there have 
been collected a series of pastimes adapted to all seasons of 
the year, and although the "long winter evenings " are especi- 
ally in my mind at present, I shall nevertheless pursue previous 
methods, and in this, the final number of the Drawing Room 
Games, select diversions which, with few exceptions, can be 
played from one end of the twelvemonth to the other. 

With the holidays near at hand, we instinctively think of 
Christmas festivities. Twelfth Night games, and so on; then, 
with the quiet Lent before us and the joyous Easter in the near 
future, our minds turn to the changing of the seasons, the snow 
and ice which melt away under the influence of April sunshine, 



6 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

and the bright flowers springing up before our waiting eyes. 
Ere we realize it summer has been with us once more and the 
autumn leaves are turning to brilliant scarlet and gold. Even 
as we watch them they begin to fall and the trees are again 
shorn of their foliage, the branches stand out bare and cold in 
the gray of the November sky, and we know that winter is 
returning. 

Life comes and goes and the world moves on, irrespective of 
the passing seasons, the varying temperature and incessant 
play of the elements, which change, not with each moon, but, 
it would sometimes seem, with almost every hour in the twenty- 
four. 

Mark Twain was right when he put it into the mouth of one 
of his boy characters to say: "We haven't any climate, but 
we have weather all the time." Lowell expresses the same 
sentiment, though in a different vein. He tells us : 

Our seasons have no fixed return, 
Without our will they come and go ; 

At noon our sudden summer burns, 
Ere sunset all is snow. 

It is to meet the exigencies of such variable weather that in 
both work and play we are often driven to our wits' end. 

Work, however, is not the subject under discussion here, 
although, incidentally, it may be observed, some people make 
a labor of their simplest pleasures. We are sorry for such as 
they, but cannot pause to offer more than a passing word of 
condolence. 

Of pleasures, as of books, it may be truly said " there is no 
end." In vain, however, do we look for an actually new class 
of diversions, for when we have studied them in turn — indi- 
vidually or collectively — and sifted their origin to the very 
core, we discover that they are, after all, old friends in fresh 
garb. Very welcome friends, to be sure, but of a decade, a 
cycle or century past. 

But we will count our mercies and be grateful for the old 
and tried friends which, in one form and another, have been 
with our forefathers in the far away ages and are now with us. 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 



'O winter ! ruler of th' inverted year. 

I crown the King of intimate delights ; 
Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness, 
And all the comforts that the lowly roof 
~ Of undisturb'd retirement, and the hours 

Of long uninterrupted ev'ning know. 

— COWPER. 

"'At the feast of Christmas,' says Stow, 'in the King's 
court, wherever he chanced to reside, there was appointed a 
lord of misrule, or master of merry disports ; the same merry 
fellow made his appearance at the house of every nobleman 
and person of distinction, and among the rest, the lord mayor 
of London and the sheriffs had severally of them their lord of 
misrule, ever contending, without quarrell or offense, who shall 
make the rarest pastimes to delight the beholders ; this pageant 
potentate began his rule at All-hallow eve, and continued the 
same till the morrow after the Feast of the Purification ; in 
which space there were fine and subtle disguisings, masks, and 
mummeries.' " 

This quotation from Stow's Survey of London, made by 
Strutt in his quaint book on the "Sports and Pastinies of the 
People of England," serves here to give us a brief, concise, and 
at the same time, clear impression of the methods of celebrat- 
ing the autumn and winter festivals in by-gone days. Customs, 
with the progress of the centuries, have changed ; but the 
spirit of the various seasons is with us always. We meet and 
make merry at Yule-tide, rejoice at the coming of the glad 
Easter, enjoy our mid-summer pleasures, and welcome ever the 
hallowe'en festivities, as of old. 



8 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

Christmas sports and pastimes are local, rather than general, 
and differ, we find, according to nationality and environment. 
We, as a people, have no distinctive mode which we can claim 
as actually "American" of celebrating this happy season, and 
depend, therefore, upon the customs and amusements which 
tradition has handed down to us from the various nations which 
have helped to settle and make our country. 

Santa Claus, so dear to the heart of every child, was brought 
to us by the Dutch settlers of New York, and by them called 
St. Nicholas, while the Christmas tree we owe to the German 
element in this country. So we might go on, enumerating one 
after another, the various ways of giving and receiving presents, 
of entertaining friends and enjoying ourselves at this season. 

The burning of the Yule-log is an almost obsolete custom 
now, though at the South there are doubtless families who still 
light it on Christmas eve, and standing around its cheery 
flames, drink to one another's success and happiness in apple- 
jack or egg nogg. 

Herrick tells us : 

Of Christmas sports^ the Wassell Bottle, 
That tost up, after Fox-i-tJi' Hole ; 
Of Bli7id-ina7t-buffe, and of the care 
That young men have to shoe the mare: 
Of Ash-Hcapes, In the which ye use 
Husbands and wives by streakes to chuse: 
Of crackling laurell, which fore-sounds 
A plentious harvest to your grounds. 

Fox-i-th' Hole, blind-man-buffe, and similar diversions have 
passed out of fashion, as far as grown people are concerned ; 
but the '' Wassell Boule " in one form or another, Ave have re- 
tained, and that, no doubt, will make us merry to the end of 
time. 

In a curious Seventeenth Century tract, "Old Christ- 
mas" is introduced and describes the former annual festivities 
of the season thus: "After dinner we arose from the board 
and sate by the fire, where the hearth was imbrodered all over 
with roasted Apples, piping hot, expecting a Bole of Ale for a 
cooler, which immediately was transformed into lamb-wool. 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 9 

After which we discoursed merily, without either prophaness 
or obscenity ; some went to cards ; others sang carols and 
pleasant Songs (suitable to the times) ; then the poor labouring 
Hinds and Maid-servants, with the plow-boys, went nimbly to 
dancing; the poor toyling wretches being glad of my Company, 
because they had little or no sport at all till I came amongst 
them ; and therefore they skipped and leaped for joy, singing 
a carol to the tune of Hay, 

Let's dance and sing, and make good cheer,. 

For Christmas comes but once a year. 

This allusion to old Christmas brings to mind the pleasant 
custom prevailing in many households, of having the Christmas 
offerings distributed by Santa Claus. 

This venerable character is generally impersonated by one of 
the elder members of the family, who, in the traditional white 
wig and flowing beard which nearly conceals his face, the 
ample fur-coat and top boots, with cheeks and nose touched up 
with carmine, will present a striking appearance. 

Now, there are many ways in which the gifts can be pre- 
sented, and the method chosen will aid in deciding also the 
most effective entrance he can make. 

If the presents are on a tree, then it is well to have them ar- 
ranged, and good old St. Nick stationed near it before the 
guests are invited to enter the room where it stands. When 
all is in readiness, the tapers lighted, and Santa Claus in the 
right pose, the portieres can be drawn aside, or the door opened 
to admit the party. To those who do not care for the trouble 
and expense of a tree, a little go-cart, freshly painted and dec- 
orated for the occasion, and to which a toy reindeer — or more 
practical, albeit less realistic, a big dog — may be attached, can 
be driven into the room, the rattling of the sleigh bells an- 
nouncing its arrival. Santa Claus, unless here represented by 
a child — must of course sit in the cart, and therefore, as at the 
sound of the bells the doors are mysteriously opened to admit 
him, he can apparently jump from his vehicle, and still holding 
the reins, run along beside it until, on reaching the centre or 
head of the room, he will stop and begin to unload and dis- 



lO DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

tribute the presents. Again, it is effective to have Santa Glaus 
enter through a window, or from the roof. This can be ar- 
ranged by any one familiar with staging tableaux-vivants or 
private theatricals, by preparing a species of transom at one of 
the doors, two ladders, one on either side of the door-sill, to 
allow ascent and decent, with a board securely fastened across 
the tops, not too broad, to permit of his stepping over, furnish 
the foundation, and can be decorated and disguised according 
to fancy of .the participants in the illusion. If ladders seem too 
high, the roof idea can give place to that of the window, when 
a box, a foot and a half or two feet high, can be placed in the 
door-way, this latter to be arranged to represent a window. In 
either case Santa Claus can look through the opening, and be- 
fore descending into the room, if he be nimble-witted, cause a 
lot of suspense and amusement withal, to the waiting group be- 
low, while he discourses on the seasons, the several merits 
and attributes of the children and their guardians. 

Sometimes the gifts are distributed from a ladder, which is 
decorated with green boughs, and illuminated by Christmas 
candles. This, of course, is easier to prepare than a tree, and 
with proper care, can be made to look very pretty. 

Another variety, not picturesque, and savoring too much of 
eternal feasting, is the bran-pie. This is generally made of 
some large receptacle — a large and deep tin wash-pan for in- 
stance — properly covered with brown paper, painted to repre- 
sent pie-crust. The pan — or receptacle — itself, can be painted 
white to represent a pie-dish. The presents, after being 
wrapped in paper and tied, are marked with the respective 
names of donors and receivers, and placed in the pan, the in- 
terstices filled in with bran or saw-dust. The cover must be of 
a sufficiently heavy texture of paper to permit of a knife cutting 
easily through it. Care must be taken not to drive the knife 
too far in, and it will be necessary to remove only so much of 
the " crust " as to make a large enough opening to draw out 
comfortably the various gifts in turn. 

One variety of distributing gifts suggests another and one 
might go on indefinitely, but .the mention of two more will 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. II 

suffice, witli those already named, to put our readers in touch 
wkh the customs of the different countries of the old world 
and serve as suggestions to what they may do themselves. In 
Roman Catholic countries the Fresipio or manger is still in 
vogue, in private houses as well as in churches, just as the 
Christmas tree is with us. Sometimes they cost large sums of 
money and are very elaborate in design, representing as they 
do in some cases the Holy Family grouped about the infant 
Jesus, with angels singing in the clouds above. 

A Christmas ship is perhaps as graceful and pretty a design 
and at the same time as simple as any of the methods already 
spoken of. A toy ship, resting on green and blue cloth repre- 
senting water, may be used. Presents can be attached to the 
masts and the rigging, and in the box on which the ship stands, 
concealed, of course, by the waving cloth, may be stowed the 
larger gifts. These can be lifted through an opening in the 
vessel representing the hatchway. The ship can be decorated 
and lighted, according to the taste of those designing it. 

Finally, of the time-worn custom of hanging up the stocking 
there need be no particular mention, for that practice will be 
maintained always in every home where there are little people 
to scamper out of bed at the first hint of dawn on Christmas 
morning, and, their arms laden with toys and sweets, rouse the 
household with blithesome carols. 

Following the distribution of the gifts come games and often 
dancing, the afternoon or evening ending with dinner or supper, 
for this is the one season of the year when, irrespective of age, 
all the family gather about the table to dine or sup together. 

Of games especially adapted to little folk, there will be 
found ample descriptions in preceding numbers of the Home 
Library, and in these various pastimes their elders, perhaps, 
will join. 

As a nation, we are curiously apt to mistake stiffness, 
amounting in some instances to actual snobbery, for dignity; 
and to maintain this false pose we more frequently than not, 
deprive ourselves of the genuine pleasure we might give and 
receive if we would consent to take part in the h,;mple diver- 
sions of the children. 



12 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

By refusing to do so, we add not a whit to our dignity; but, 

on the contrary, draw attention rather to the weakness of our 

affectation, for it is generally conceded among the enlightened 

that 

"A little nonsense, now and then. 
Is relished by the wisest men." 

After the children have been sent to the nursery there still 
remains an hour or more to be disposed of prior to the dispers- 
ing of the household and friends. 

Sometimes there will be impromptu dancing for a while, or 
or again, a little music; but more likely than not, the various 
members of the Christmas gathering will turn to one another 
in quest of or to suggest some diversion in which all can take 
part, and here it is the drawing room games are called into 
requisition. 

Of these, many have already been presented in numbers 21 
and 25 of the Home Library, and I add here a few more, 
with the hope that they will prove equally popular. 

CONVEYANCES. 

To enter into and play this game in the proper spirit, it is 
essential that the players should be well posted regarding the 
various modes of traveling all over the world, for every detail 
is effective as well as useful. 

Any number can take part and the game begins by one of 
the players announcing that he (or she) intends setting out on 
a journey. 

Four questions are put to him: he is asked if he will go by 
sea or by land; to what quarter of the globe; North, South, 
East or West, and, finally, what conveyance he intends to use. 

The questions having been answered, the first player is 
called upon to name the place he intends to visit. 

Directly the four questions have been answered, should the 
first player be unable to name the country he intends to visit, 
he pays a forfeit, and the opportunity is passed to his left- 
hand neighbor. 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 1 3 

During the course of the game, according to the ability of 
the players individually, and their familiarity with the various 
modes of travel, innumerable journeys by mountain and river, 
through valleys and over streams, by ocean or across the conti- 
nent by land, can be graphically described. 

People who have been in Italy and Switzerland have an 
extensive field before them. For instance, the famous railway 
up the Righi, donkey riding, chairs carried by porters, the 
dangerous looking ladders which Swiss peasants mount again 
and again so fearlessly at all seasons of the year in order to 
scale the awful precipices, the ropes attaching climber and 
guide, and so on indefinitely. 

Then in the cold regions, the sledges drawn by reindeer, 
the Greenland dogs, the gigantic skates, resembling really 
small canoes, used by Laplanders. 

The stilts used by poor French people, living at the west of 
their country. 

In Arabia, the camels; in China, the junks; in Spain, as 
over the Alps, the diligences; in Venice, the gondolas, and 
also the little steamers plying the Grand Canal out to the Lido, 
which have so changed the aspect of the picturesque city on 
the sea. 

In Great Britain and in our own country, the more familiar 
modes of transit, every variety of coach or carriage, usually 
called by us "cars;" the ferry and steamboats, sailboats and 
canoes, balloons, bicycles, tricycles, wheelbarrows and peram- 
bulators; the jaunting car and village stage, the trolley and 
trams, and so on, ad infinitum. 

In fine, one conveyance will suggest another, be the dis- 
tance from one town to the next, across the Continent of 
Europe and America or around the world. 

The game is not only amusing, but, as will be seen, very 
instructive. A person possessing a fund of humor can describe 
journeys replete with fun and adventure, and one more 
seriously inclined, intent upon imparting as well as receiving 
information, can take his audience " up the Nile," across the 
steppes of Russia and over the Fjords in Norway, etc. 



14 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

The game admits of varieties and elaborations without 
number, and will be enjoyed certainly by all who try it. 

THE SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND. 

This game, according to tradition, is supposed to combine 
amusement with instruction also. For the benefit, however, 
of the reader, who may pause here to observe that he does 
not care for such a combination, it may be candidly stated that 
there is no danger of his receiving too much of the latter. 

The game is played with a pack of cards, on each of which 
is represented one of the Sovereigns of England, each in the 
costume of his epoch, and with his or her name, and the date 
of accession plainly written beneath. 

An additional card, known as the ''game card" has, instead 
of a portrait, a picture of the royal arms. 

Any number above three may take part, and to each is dealt 
a given number of counters. 

There are two pools, called respectively, "large pool " and 
'* game pool." Prior to every deal, each of the players puts 
one counter in the large pool, and the dealer, three in the 
game pool. 

The cards are then shuffled and dealt round, all face down- 
wards. 

The object of the game is two-fold, to hold the game card, 
and to hold in the player's hand none but sovereigns in con- 
secutive order. 

The first player; that is, the one on the left of the dealer, 
lays, face downwards on the table, any card he likes, and takes 
in, in its place, the single card. 

The second player then, in the same way, also discards one 
card, taking up in its place the one discarded by the last 
player. 

The game proceeds thus until one or another of the players 
holds none but consecutive sovereigns, when, showing his 
hand, he takes the large pool. If he also has, by chance, the 
*«game card," he takes the game pool too. 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 15 

If any player by mistake, shows his hand as consisting of 
consecutive sovereigns, and it is proved that he is at fault in 
his English history, he forfeits three counters to the large pool. 

Incidentally, it may be remarked, that even the least well 
informed are not liable to make this mistake, save through 
direct carelessness or inattention, as a printed list of the kings 
and queens of England is supplied with each pack of cards, 
and can be consulted at any time during the game. 

Variations on the game can easily be arranged, of course, 
by substituting the sovereigns of any of the other countries 
ruled by monarchies. Russia, France, Germany and Italy, 
for instance, would offer, respectively, very interesting fields 
of investigation and amusement. 

ADVICE GRATIS, 

Each person is provided with a slip of paper, on which he is 
to write a piece of advice. The "advice " can be original, or, 
if he is lacking in imagination, a proverb, or even a mere piece 
of copy book morality. The papers are then folded and shaken 
up in a hat. Each player draws one and reads it aloud for 
the information of the company, first declaring, before reading 
it, of course, what kind of advice it is. 

For example, "Good;" "Very good;" "Capital;" "Just 
what I need;" "Quite uncalled for;" "Altogether wrong;" 
•'Totally distasteful," etc 

Thus, Miss A declares her piece of advice to be Jusf what 
she needs^ and opening her paper, finds it contains advice not to 
spend so J7iiuh time looking in the glass. 

Mr. B announces his piece of advice to be extremely appro- 
priate, and discovers that the sentiment expressed on the slip 
he holds is that if he were not so conceited, he'd be not a bad 
sort of fellow. 

Miss C, who has declared that the advice offered her is 
quite superfluous, discovers that she is told to never kiss and tell. 

Mr. D considers his advice capital, and then reads: Rolling 
stones gather no moss. 



l6 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

Miss E knows her advice to be altogether wrong, and opening 
the slip finds: A generous i77ipulse should always be follozued. 

Mr. F regards his advice as welcome^ and glancing at his 
paper is rather startled to see clearly written there: Go hang 
yourself. 

A great deal of lun can be had from the slips of paper, and 
the totally irrevelant remarks and comments which precede the 
reading of the slips. 

THROWING LIGHT. 

This is a game somewhat on the order of " How, when and 
where;" but admits of more general observations, and is, 
really, of a higher grade. 

Two of the company agree privately upon a word which is 
susceptible of two or three meanings. Then they proceed by 
means of an impromptu dialogue to throw light upon it. 

The other players do their best to guess the word, and when 
one or another fancies he has done so, he does not publicly 
announce his guess, but makes such a remark as to indicate to 
the initiated that he has discovered their secret. If they have 
any doubt from the inanner in which he expresses himself 
that his guess is not correct they challenge him; that is, 
require him to name rhe word in a whisper. 

If his guess proves to be right, he then joins in the conver- 
sation; but if, on the other hand, he is wrong, he must submit 
to have a handkerchief thrown over his face, and thus remain, 
until by a more fortunate observation he can prove that he 
really knows the word. 

Here I give a familiar example, a word very simple in itself, 
sufficiently complex in the variety of its meanings to afford play 
of thought and more or less intricate dialogue: 

Miss A and Mr. B agree upon the word "bed," and proceed 
then to throw light upon it, expatiating upon its various quali- 
ties and uses as a place of repose; a part of a garden, the bed 
of a river or stream, etc., somewhat as follows: 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 1 7 

Miss A — "I don't know what your opinion may be, but I'm 
never tired of it." 

Mr. B — " Well, for my part, I am never in a hurry to get to 
it, or to leave it. " 

Miss A — " How delightful it is after a long, tiring day." 

Mr. B — "But it is a pleasure that soon palls. The most 
anxious of its seekers does not care for too much of it at 
a stretch." 

Miss A — "Oh, don't you think sq ? In early Spring, for 
instance, with the dew upon the flowers ! " 

Air. B — " Oh, you take a romantic view. But how could it 
be beneath some rapid torrent or some broad, majestic river?" 

Mrs. C — (Thinks she sees her way, and hazards a remark) 
. . . . " or a Soiiche!" 

Mr. B. — "I beg your pardon. Please tell me in a whisper 
what you suppose the word to be." 

Mrs. C— (In a whisper.) "Fish! What, is that not it?" 

Mr. B — " I am afraid you must submit to a temporary 
eclipse." (Throws handkerchief over her face.) 

Mr. B to ATiss A — (As if resuming interrupted conversation.) 
"You mentioned Spring, I think. For my part, I prefer 
feathers." 

Mr. D — (Rashly concludes from the combination of spring 
and feathers, that spnng chicken must be the subject referred 
to and says): " Surely you would have them plucked?" 

Mr. B — (Looking mystified.) "I think not. May I ask 
you to name your guess ? " (JNIr. D whispers to him. ) "Oh, 
no, quite out. I must trouble you for your handkerchief." 
(He covers the face of Mr. D, who is thus left to his own 
meditations.) 

Miss A — (Resuming.) "It's curious that it must be made 
afresh every day, is it not ? " 

Air. B — " So it is. I confess, I never thought of it in that 
light before. I don't fancy, however, that old Brown, the 
gardener, makes his quite so often." 

Miss A — "You may depend that he has it made for him, 
though." 



l8 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

Mrs. C — (From under the handkerchief.) "At any rate, 
according as he makes it, so will his future be decided. You 
know the proverb." 

Mr, B — (Removing the handkerchief.) "You have fairl)^ 
earned your release. By the way, do you remember an old 
paradox on the subject: ' what no one wants to give away, yet 
no body cares to keep?' " 

Miss E — " Oh, now you liave let out the secret. I do not 
wish to keep mine for long together; but I would willingly 
give mine away if I could get a better." 

Miss A — ' Tell me your guess." (Miss E whispers.) "Yes, 
you have hit it. I was afraid Mr. B's last light was rather too 
strong." 

And so the game goes on until every player is in the secret, 
or the few who are still in doubt about the word, "give it up." 
This, however, rarely happens, for, as the players generally 
have guessed the word, the "lights" are flashed about in a 
rash and reckless manner until the task of guessing is reduced 
to such a grade of simplicity as to make it no effort at all. 

"Stage" is another word, too, that suggests a bright and 
entertaining dialogue, as it admits of a discussion, not only of 
various modes of travel, but of the drama, foot lights, etc. 
" Coach " is a capital word in this age of four-in-hand driving, 
preparing boys for the university, and so on. 

Indeed, one word will suggest another, and the game can 
be kept up indefinitely at the will of the players. 

VITESSE— (QUICKNESS) . 

As the name implies, this is a game which requires rapidity 
of thought and action. It is played by two persons, each 
holding a full pack of cards. 

They sit opposite one another, each with his pack face down- 
ward, before him. 

At a signal, both players begin to turn over their cards, one 
by one, face outward, throwing them on the table as they do 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. IQ 

SO. The players do not take turns, but play individually as 
fast as they can, repeating, as the cards are turned, the names 
of the thirteen from ace to king over and over again. 

Whenever the card turned is the same as the one called out, 
the player must lay it by itself and begin again at the ace. 

The player who succeeds in first laying aside thus, thirteen 
cards, is winner. 

If, however, a card is passed that should have been thrown 
out, the player must continue calling out names, as if it had 
been any other card, . 

To insure the success of the game, alertness of eye and 
quickness of hand, with, incidentally, ready speech, are neces- 
sary, and the foundation of all, of course, is close attention. 

The game appears very simple, but the experienced player 
will, nevertheless, have an advantage always over the beginner. 

ECHO. 

This is a game somewhat like Stage-Coach, save here, speech 
and not motion is required. 

Any number of persons can take part in it ; "the more, the 
merrier ! " 

One of the party is elected story-teller, and prior to beginning 
his tale, gives to each of the other players in turn, the name of 
a character, or object connected with it. 

When the raconteur mentions the (assumed) name of a player, 
he (or she) must repeat it twice, and if it be mentioned twice 
in succession, it must be repeated — echoed — once. 

Any player who does not "echo" his name, or who repeats 
it the wrong number of times, pays a forfeit. 

The object of the person telling the story must be to make it 
so entertaining that his listeners will forget to " echo." 

If the story be, for instance, about a bear hunt, the names 
assumed by the players could be hunter, gun, powder, 
bullets, knife, cave, rock, wood, tree, etc. ; if a sea- 
voyage and shipwreck, then ship, captain, first-mate — or first- 



20 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

officer — steward, purser, mast, sail, rigging, life-boat, engine, 
deck, stern, bow, passenger (one, two, three or more, accord- 
ing to number required to include all the players), rain, wave, 
wind, hurricane and so on ; if a journey by rail across the 
plains with adventures, train, coach (one, two, three or more), 
baggage car, trunk, window, door, ventilator, sleeper, drawing- 
room carriage, chair, foot-stool, rack, table, porter, track, tile, 
trestle, bridge, tunnel, brake, brakeman, conductor, lamp, 
stove, steam pipe, switch, flagman, mountain, prairie, Indian, 
soldier, passenger, etc. , 

One might go on indefinitely thinking of and suggesting sub- 
jects of infinite variety, each one as good or better than the 
other. 

After the game has been concluded, the returning of the 
various forfeits will prove a pleasant feature, furnishing fresh 
pleasure and amusement. 

Enter Wassel, like a neat sempster and songster, her page 
bearing a brown bowl, drest in ribbon and rosemary, before her. 

— Ben Jonson. 

Following close upon Christmas, come New Year and 
Twelfth-night, and regarding the former, we are told : "There 
was an ancient custom, which is yet retained in many places, 
on New Year's eve ; young women went about with a Wassail 
Bowl of spiced ale, with some sort of verses that were sung by 
them as they went from door to door. Wassail is derived from 
two Anglo-Saxon words, meaning, be in health. It were un- 
necessary to add that they accepted little presents on the 
occasion, from the houses at which they stopped to pay this 
annual congratulation." 

A Wassailers' song on New Year's eve, as still sung in 
Gloucestershire, " was communicated by Samuel Lysons, Esq.," 
we are informed further on, and begins : 

" Wassail ! Wassail ! all over the town, 
Our toast it is white, our ale it is brown ; 
Our bowl it is made of a maplin tree, 
We be good fellows all ; I drink to thee." 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. ' 21 

From time immemorial this has been a season of festivity in 
one form or another, and the custom still prevails with us of 
•' watching the old year out." 

Sometimes a number of friends meet informally, and with 
story-telling, simple games, music, or even conversation alone, 
await the strike of twelve which ushers out the old year and 
welcomes in the new. Then, with clasping of hands, they ex- 
change good wishes and joyously greet the opening of the year, 
noting the while, perhaps, the state of the M'eather, for the old 
Scottish superstition regarding the play of the elements at this 
time, holds good yet. 

According to Sir John Sinclair, " On the first night of Jan- 
uary they observe, with anxious attention, the disposition of 
the atmosphere. As it is calm or boisterous ; as the \vind 
blows from the south or the north, from the east or the west ; 
they prognosticate the nature of the weather till the conclusion 
of the year. Their faith in the above signs is couched in verses 
(thus translated): 'The wind of the south will be productive 
of heat and fertility; the wind of the west, of milk and fish; 
the wind of the north, of cold and storm ; the wind from the 
east, of fruit on the trees.' " 

Another account of the superstitions attending the New 
Year is found in the Dialogue of Dives and Pauper, which was 
printed in 1493 by Richard Pynson; this says : " Alle that take 
hede to dysmale dayes, or use nyce observaunces in the newe 
moone, or in the N^ezv Year, as setting of mete and drynke^ 
by nighte ott the bene he, to fede Atholdge and Gobehmy 

From the eve until the dawn of the New Year only a few 
hours elapse, and yet what a length of time it seems, as we re- 
flect upon all that is passed, and upon what may be before us ! 

The day is not so especially noted and celebrated by us as 
formerly. True, house-parties assemble in the country, where 
dancing and feasting are still in vogue, but the old-time custom 
of receiving and paying visits on the first of the year is obsolete, 
and in town it is as quiet and uneventful a day as Sunday. 

No work is done on this day, which is altogether contrary to 
the ancient Roman custom, of which Massey speaks in his 



22 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

'* Note's to Ovid's Fasti." ♦* It was the custom at Rome," he 
says, "upon New Year's Day, for all tradesmen to work a little 
in their business by way of omen ; for luck's sake, as we say, 
that they might have constant business all the year after." 
His translation of the passage, runs : 

With business is the year auspiciously begun ; 
But every artist, soon as he has try'd 
To work a little, lays his work aside. 

In this country, as in England, we exchange gifts at Christ- 
mas ; but on the continent. New Year's Day is the time chosen 
for giving and receiving presents. 

This is evidently the survival of a Pagan custom, and one 
which, if we may believe Prynne, although at one period also 
in vogue in England, became gradually disapproved of, and 
finally, was done away with there, altogether. 

Apropos of Rites of New Year's Day, he says in his " His- 
trio-Mastix" : 

" If we now parallel our grand disorderly Christmasses with 
these Roman Saturnals and heathen festivals, or our Neia 
Yeare" s Day (a chief part of Christmas) with their festivity of 
Janus, which was spent in mummeries, stage-playes, dancing, 
and such like enterludes, wherein fidlers and others acted 
lascivious effeminate parts, and went about their towns and 
cities in women's apparel ; whence the whole Catholicke 
Church (as Alchuvinus with others write), appointed a solemn 
publike faste upon this, our New Yeare's Day (which faste it 
seems is now forgotten), to bewaile those heathenish enterludes, 
sports and lewd idolatrous practices which had been used on it ; 
prohibiting all Christians, under pain of exconiniunication, 
from observing the calendo, or first of January {jiv hie h we no%v 
call Neiv Yeare' s Day), as holy, and frovi sending abroad New 
Yeare' s gifts tipon it {a custom now too frequent), it being a 
mere relique of paganisme and idolatry, derived from the heatheji 
Roman' s feast of two-faced Janus, and a practice so execrable 
to Christians, that not only the whole Catholicke church, but 
even the four famous councils, * * *" (here are named 
various authorities), " have positively prohibited the solejnniza- 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 23 

Hon of Neiv Yeare's Day and sending abroad of Nexv Yeai'c" s 
gifts, tender an anathema and exconimnnication.'' 

The Latins do not appear to have been disturbed by this in- 
junction against the celebrating of this day ; for although the 
exaggerated merry-makings have long since ceased to be 
practiced, the more quiet customs of the day are still popular, 
and it is observed by them, w^ith dinners, dances, and the ex- 
change of gifts. Friends, too, send their visiting cards to one 
another through the post, with good wishes of the season. 

With Twelfth-Day the holiday season ends, and on the mor- 
row, the interrupted studies are resumed, and work in every 
sphere taken upon again with rencM^ed vigor. 

The last day, then, of this festal season, must be made as 
jolly as possible. 

Twelfth Day, or the Feast of the Epiphany, Bourne tells us, 
"is one of the greatest of the twelve, and of more jovial 
observation for the visiting of friends." 

Of course, the customs of the day vary according to the 
country in which it is observed: to do honor to the Eastern 
Magi, who are supposed to have been of royal dignity, is, 
hon^ever, generally conceded to be the universal object of the 
day and evening. 

In France, it was the custom, formerly, to choose one of the 
courtiers for king, while the other nobles attended an enter- 
tainment in honor of the festivity. In Germany, similar rites 
were observed in cities and academies, where the students and 
citizens elected one of their own number for king, and pro- 
vided a splendid banquet for the occasion. 

In the ancient calendar of the Roman Catholic church, 
occurs an observation on the fifth day of January, the eve or 
vigilio (vigil) of Epiphany: " Kings created or elected by 
beans." 

The sixth day (Epiphany) is called " The Festival of Kings," 
and to this is added the remark: "... this ceremony of 
electing kings was continued with feasting many days." 

That this custom of choosing a king and queen prevailed also 
in England is well known; for it was formerly "a common 



24 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

Christmas gambol in both the English universities," we are told. 
"... Answerable hereto some of our colleges in Oxford did, 
fiom the time of their first formation, annually choose a Lord 
at Christmas, stiled in their registers Rex Fabaruin and Rex 
regni Fabarum, which was continued down to the Reformation 
of Religion, and probably had that appellation because he 
might be appointed by lot, wherein beans were used, as the 
Roy de la /v(^z^^ on the feast of the Three Kings or Twelfth 
Day, was the person who had that part of the cake wherein the 
bean was placed, says Anstice in his ' Collections relative to 
the Court of Chivalry.' " 

A writer in the "Gentleman's Magazine," of December, 
1764, is of the opinion that the practice of choosing king and 
queen on Twelfth Night derives its origin from a Roman 
custom, Mdiich, in its turn, was taken from the Grecians, of 
casting dice who should be Rex Convivii; or, as he was called 
by Horace, Arbiter Bibendi. With them, whoever threw the 
lucky stone, which they termed Venus or Basilieus, gave laws 
for the night. In a similar manner, the lucky clown who, out 
of the numerous divisions of the cake, draws the king, becomes 
thereby, sovereign of the company; while the poor clod-pole 
to whom the knave falls, is as unfortunate as the Roman whose 
sad fate it was to throw the daninosum Canicuhun. 

Half a century ago this custom had ceased altogether in the 
north of England, but at the south, was still in practice, and 
in an old book is found a description of it translated from the 
Latin; it reads: "After tea a cake is produced, and two bowls 
containing the fortunate chances for the different sexes. The 
host fills up the tickets, and the whole company, except the 
king and queen are to be ministers of state, maids of honour, 
or ladies of the bed-chamber. Often the host and hostess, 
more by design, perhaps, than accident, become king and 
queen. According to Twelfth-day law each party is to sup- 
port his character till midnight." 

"Formerly, the 'twelfth-cake' was made of plums, and 
with a bean and a pea; the former, whoever got it, was to be 
king; whoever found the latter was to be queen." 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 25 

In Herrick's Hespej'ides (page 376), is a description under 
the head of " Twelfe Night," on King and Queen, beginning : 

Now, now, the mirth comes 

With the cake full of plums. 
Where bearfe's the king of the sport here; 

Besides we must know, 

The pea also 
Must revell, as queene, in the court here. 

One might go on indefinitely, citing the various methods of 
celebrating this festival, but those given above suffice to indi- 
cate the customs of the various countries across the seas, and, 
at the same time, to suggest to us, perhaps, ideas which we 
can adopt, elaborate and amplify, according to fancy. 

Twelfth-night parties can be of simple or elaborate design, 
impromptu or pre-arranged. In any case, if entered into with 
the right spirit, they cannot fail of being very enjoyable. 

Fancy dress — not necessarily masks, however — is always a 
pleasing feature, and bright dialogues, charades and little 
plays add much to the gaiety of the entertainment. Tableaux 
vivants are, of course, very effective if properly presented. By 
"properly presented" I do not mean elaborate preparation, for 
often the most impromptu representations give as much pleas- 
ure as those which have been chosen and rehearsed with care. 

To create a good living picture one must be thoroughly 
familiar with the subject to be portrayed, selecting and posing 
the person who is most suited in appearance and expression to 
represent it. The minor, but withal necessary details of cos- 
tume, surroundings or background, and, finally, the frame, can 
then be easily arranged. 

There are subjects innumerable to choose from — historical, 
political, dramatic, musical, literary, poetic, etc. If a fancy 
dress gathering, historic pictures will doubtless be tke first to 
suggest themselves. If the guests are in ordinary evening 
dress, fancy will have even wider range, for certain adjuncts 
to the toilet will be necessary to the building of a picture. 

The average " pretty girl " will lend herself to any number 
of pictures, and in turn can represent, in some well-known 



26 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

style and pose, portraits by Sir Peter Lely, Sir Joshua Rey- 
nolds, Van Dyck, Rubens, etc., or allegorical or sacred subjects 
of Botticelli, Fra Angelico and so on. The men need not be 
excluded from this list, although to allow of their taking part 
in a picture, singly or in a group, more alteration and addition 
to their dress will be required. 

Acting charades are always interesting and probably give 
more pleasure when gotten up on the spur of the moment than 
if arranged beforehand. 

When the charade is impromptu, the company usually divides 
itself into two parties, one to act, the other to form the audi- 
ence and guess the word. If more than one charade is pre- 
sented, the parties, of course, change places, each taking turn 
at asking the words. 

The scenery and costumes must be made from materials at 
hand, and this fact in itself admits of a great deal of amuse- 
ment. In impromptu theatricals or charades, as in regularly 
arranged performances, there should be a stage manager, whom 
in this instance we will call "leader." This person — man or 
woman, as the case may be — should have entire control of the 
affair, and although willing to listen to and accept, as the 
occasion prompts, suggestions and advice from the others, still 
decide always the course to be pursued. 

When impromptu, it will be found easier and wiser, too, to 
indicate the plot and name the syllables of the word, leaving 
the players to make their own dialogue, introduciiig the sylla- 
ble or indicating its meaning by their actions. Sometimes 
neither word nor syllable are spoken, being acted simply; the 
introducing of the syllables in their respective order (first, 
second or third act), and finally that of the entire word in the 
dialogue will be found simpler than illustrating them by action. 
Among words which suggest themselves as easy of interpreta- 
tion and action are the following: 

Accident Axe-sigh-dent. Dolphin Doll-fin. 

Bandage Band-age. Handcuff Hand-cuff. 

Carpet Car-pet. Implore Imp-lore. 

Lawful Law-full. Pilot Pie-lot, 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. " 27 

Nightmare Night-mare. Railway. .... .Rail-way. 

Outside Out-side. Toilet Toy-let. 

If, however, the guests are not inclined to histrionic efforts, 
such as plays and acting charades call for, then the simpler 
form of rhyming charades, conundrums, etc., will form agree- 
able substitutes. 

In an old book devoted to indoor amusements is a depart- 
ment entitled "Fireside Fun." 

This contains a series of charades, enigmas, etc., showing 
what an extensive field of both information and amusement lies 
in the exercise in various forms of construction of the words of 
our language. 

A few examples culled from the collection and given under 
their respective headings will be presented here. One charade 
or puzzle will often lead to or suggest another, and it may 
therefore be left to the readers to elaborate and extend for 
themselves this class of diversion. 

CHARADES* 

My whole is the name of the schoolboy's dread ; 
My first is the name of a quadruped ; 
My first transposed a substance denotes, 
Which in carts or in coaches free motion promotes. 
Transpose it again, and it gives j'ou the key 
Which leads to the results of much industry. 
My second is that which deforms all the graces 
Which cluster around the fair maidens' fair faces ; 
Transpose it, and it gives you the name of a creature 
Of no little notice in the history of nature. 
Now take my whole in transposition 
And it will give you the dress of a Scotch musician. 
Answer — Rattan. 

DECAPITATIONS. 

My whole is a word of one syllable and expresses a species of grain ; 
Behead me, and you make me very warm. 

Once again, and at meal time I shall be called into requisition ; 
And yet again, remove my initial letter and I remain a simple preposition. 
Answer — Wheat, heat, eat, at. 



aS DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

I have used all my whole this puzzle to frame. 
But if you behead me, then m.urder you name ; 
Behead me again, and not as dead as supposed, 
For I still live and breathe, but am much indisposed. 

Answer — Skill, kill, ill. 

My whole is unbearable ; 

Behead me, I am bearable ; 

Again beheaded, I am easily moved ; 

Once more beheaded, I remain a solid piece of furniture. 

Answer — Insupportable, supportable, portable, table. 

Other words which suggest themselves for decapitation are, 
for instance : Abate, abroad, alone, discomfort, draft, drink, 
encompass, etc. 

CURTAILMENTS AND RETAILINGS. 

Complete, I am a privilege exclusive. 
By many sought with hope illusive ; 
Curtail me, and for sacred use I'm claimed ; 
Once more, and your own head you've named ; 
Curtail me again, in Erin's Isle I then abound, 
And if again, you venture, a father will be found. 

Answer — Patent, paten, pate, Pat, pa. 

Other examples are : 1 

1. Curtail a patriarchal dwelling place, and find the number of that coun- 
cil in ancient Rome of which Appius Claudius was the chief. 

Answer — Tent, ten. 

2. Curtail that organ which is said to be the seat of all emotion, and there 
remains one of the five senses. 

Answer — Heart, hear. 

Here is a combined decapitation and retailing puzzle, the 

retailing effected by the transposition of the letters : , 

Strike my whole and 'twill give you light ; 
Behead and retail me, I'm the gossips' delight ; 
Behead me once more and your head's I'll adorn ; 
Once again, and I'm left at last all forlorn. 

Answer — Match, chat (atch transposed), hat, at. 

«< Transpose" is sometimes used instead of retail, but trans- 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 29 

positions, properly so called, are of a different order, as will 
be seen by examples given further on. 
Examples of retailing : 

1. Complete, I am common, 
Beheaded, I am. a ceremony ; 
Retailed, I am a head-dress. 
Answer — Trite, rite, tire. 

2. Complete, I am a servant ; 
Beheaded, I am an apartment ; 
Retailed, I am an extensive waste. 

Answer — Groom, room, moor. 

3. My whole is a metal ; 

Beheaded, curtailed and transposed, I am a noted English poet ; 
Beheaded and transposed, I then become an American poet ; 
Curtailed again, I name one of Italy's chief rivers. 

Answer— Copper, Pope, Poe, Po. 

Another form of retailing consists in choosing some word 
which, upon the addition of one or more letters at the end. will 
make one or more different words of distinct meanings. For 
instance : 

1. I am often heard in parliamentary debates. Retail me, and I am the 
seat of all affections and passions ; retail me again, and I am your neighbor 
when seated round the fireside. 

Answer — Hear, heart, hearth. 

2. I am of great warmth. Retail me, I am bleak and barren ; retail me 
again, and I am a pagan. 

Answer — Heat, heath, heathen. 

ANAGRAMS* 

In its proper sense, the term anagram means the letters of 
one or more words written backward, and is derived from two 
Greek words — ana (backwards) and gramma (letter). For 
instance, the word live would form its anagram evil. 

In this day the term is used in a broader sense, and admits, 
therefore, of greater variety. The inversion or transposition 
of the letters of a word o«r phrase to form a new word or sen- 
tence is an anagram as we understand and use it now. 



30 DRAWING ROOM GAMES, 

It is a species of amusement which will help develop the 
mind and quicken the thinking powers of all who take part in 
it, for it requires keen perception and ready wit, founded on a 
good intellectual basis, to insure success. 

Clever men of all ages, statesmen and divines alike, have 
tried their hand at this, and many are the wise and witty 
results of their study. 

Isaac Disraeli, the father of the Earl of Beaconsfield, we are 
told, devoted a chapter in his "Curiosities of Literature" to 
the consideration of the various anagrams which he had come 
across in the course of his remarkable research. The chapter 
is recommended to all students of this particular class of liter- 
ature. Here are a few specimens from it : 

"Charles James Stuart — Claims Arthur's seat." "James 
Stuart — A just master." "An eccentric dame in the reign of 
Charles I. believed herself to be gifted with the spirit of 
prophecy, but as her prophecies were usually against the gov- 
ernment of the day, she was eventually brought by them into 
the Court of the High Commission. She based her claim as 
prophetess upon an anagram she had formed of her name : 
'Eleanor Davies — Reveal, O Daniel.' This anagram was 
imperfect, as it had one / too many and the letter s M'as 
omitted, but it satisfied her. The bishops reasoned with her 
out of the Scriptures to no avail, but one of the Deans of Arches 
vanquished her with her own weapons. He took a pen and hit 
upon the excellent anagram : ' Dame Eleanor Davies — Never 
so mad a ladie.' " 

The names of famous men and women of the present day, as 
well as of the past, offer a large field to the student. 

The number is as varied as it is seemingly endless, but from 
another group, chosen with evident care, I will select a few 
more examples : 

"Louis Napoleon — Ape no lion, soul." 

" Horatio Nelson — Lo ! Nation's hero." 

" Marie Antoinette — Tear it, men; I atone." 

" William Ewart Gladstone- — A man to wield great wills." 

"Florence Nightingale — Cling on, feeling heart." 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 3I 

"Alfred Tennyson, Poet Laureate — Neat sonnet or deep, 
tearful lay." 

Following these, which will suggest others of a similar char- 
acter, are the names of birds, flowers, etc. For instance : 

"The Nightingale — High gale in tent." "The turtle dove 
— Eve, let truth do." " Ear in mug — Geranium." "Hit or 
elope — Heliotrope," etc. 

From birds and flowers one can turn to animals and the vari- 
ous objects in nature, then to the house and its furniture; 
indeed, there is no limit to what an ingenious mind can devise. 

Birds, fruits and flowers enigmatically expressed is another 
and very pretty form on this order of diversion. The follow- 
ing illustrations will serve to give an idea of how the game is 
played. Let one person familiar with construction as well as 
solution of the enigma put the questions, and give the answer 
if the others fail to do so. 

BIRDS. 

1. "What a severe attack of quinsy prohibits you from 
doing." (Answer — Swallow.) 

2. "An architect well known to fame." (Answer — Wren.) 

3. " What a coward does in a moment of danger." (Answer 
—Quail.) 

4. "A monarch, and a toiler of the seas." (Answer — King- 
fisher.) 

FRUITS. 

1. " To give way to anxiety and sorrow." (Answer — Pine.) 

2. " The greatest crime in a schoolboy's calendar." (Answer 
—Peach.) 

3. "The color of growing herbage and a challenge." 
(Answer — Green-gage. ) 

4. "A vowel and a cooking apparatus." (Answer — O-range.) 

FLOWERS. 

1. " What a good conscience gives to its possessor." (Answer 
— Heart's-ease.) 

2. "An Irish vehicle and a people who live under one gov- 
ernment." (Answer — Car-nation.) 



32 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

3. "A noted Quaker and a //^wfl'y article of dress." (Answer 
— Fox-glove.) 

4. " The title of one o Macaulay's plays and the name of 
one of the public funds." (Answer — Virginia Stock.) 

Within six weeks of Twelfth-night comes vSt. Valentine's 
Day, which ofifers always a charming excuse for the exchange 
of sentiments through poems, flowers or some simple gift, 
mayhap. 

In other days, there were practiced quaint customs in con- 
nection with the Saint's name, which even now we sometimes 
use on Halloween. 

Among them is one which Misson, in his "Travels in Eng- 
land," has described most graphically. The translation is by 
Ozell, and reads : 

"On the eve of the 14th of February, St. Valentine's Day, a 
time when all living nature inclines to couple, the young folks 
in England and Scotland, too, by a very ancient custom, celebrate 
a little festival that tends to the same end. An equal number 
of maids and bachelors get together, each write their true or 
some feigned name upon separate billets, which they roll up, 
and draw by way of lots, the maids taking the men's billets 
and the men the maids', so that each of the young men lights 
upon a girl he calls his Valentine, each of the girls upon a 
young man which she calls her's. By this each has two Valen- 
tines ; but the man sticks faster to the Valentine that is fallen 
to him than to the Valentine to whom he is fallen. Fortune 
having thus divided the company into so many couples, the 
Valentines give balls and treats to their mistresses, wear their 
billets several days upon their bosoms or sleeves, ^nd this little 
sport often ends in love. * * *" 

This primitive custom is of course no longer in vogue ; but 
the day is remembered always, and beyond the exchange of 
sentiments, above alluded to, there are often parties given, teas, 
luncheons or dinners, as the case may be. It is a favorite day 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 33 

also, it would seem, for charity performances, as under this 
head many entertainments are given, with more or less success." 

Now nature hangs her mantle green 

On every blooming tree, 
And spreads her sheet o' daises white 

Out o'er the grassy lea. 

—Burns, " Sonnet of Mary, Queen of Scots." 

From St. Valentine's Day to Shrove Tuesday seems but a 
step, and then comes Lent, which even to those who are not 
church people, must be welcome as a period of rest, at least. 

On the Continent, Sunday does not count as one of the 
"forty-days," hence is a day of more or less festivity always, 
while at mid-Lent there is sure to be some special entertain- 
ment. In this country the custom is in vogue at New Orleans, 
where a •' Mi-Careme " masquerade is one of the chief features 
of the winter. After this there is a cessation of gaieties until 
the joyous festival of Easter, and with that day, all over the 
civilized world, and in churches of almost every denomination, 
there is a special service to commemorate the event. 

The churches are very generally decorated, and in connec- 
tion with this, a writer in the "Gentlemen's Magazine" of a 
century ago, conjectures that: "The flowers, with which 
many churches are ornamented on Easter Day, are most prob- 
ably intended as emblems of the Resurrection, having just 
risen from the earth, in which, during the severity of winter, 
they seem to have been buried." 

The idea, certainly, is a beautiful one. The celebrating of 
this season does not end, however, with church decorations and 
service, for following the Day of Easter, there is a revival, 
temporary as a rule, of gaieties in the way of dances and so on. 

In families where there are children, there is usually a hunt 
for eggs on Easter Monday. 

Just how and where this custom originated is open to con- 
jecture, although, perhaps Count de Gebelin's researches may 
be accepted as a solution. 

In his " Religious History of the Calendar" he tells us that 
*'this custom of giving eggs at Easter is to be traced up to the 



34 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

theology and philosophy of the Egyptians, Persians, Gauls, 
Greeks, Romans, etc., among all of whom an egg was an em- 
blem of the universe, the work of the Supreme Divinity." 

In his "History of Customs," Pere Carmeli tells us that 
"during Easter and the following days, hard eggs, painted of 
different colours, but principally red, are the ordinary food of 
the season." 

"In Italy, Spain and in Provence," he continues, "where 
almost every ancient superstition is retained, there are in the 
public places certain sports with eggs." "This custom," he 
adds, "is derived from the Jews or the Pagans, for it is common 
to both. The Jewish wives at the Feast of the Passover, upon 
a table prepared for that purpose, place hard eggs, the symbols 
of a bird called Ziz, concerning which the Rabbis have a 
thousand fabulous accounts." 

That the Church of Rome has considered eggs emblematical 
of the Resurrection, Brand tells us, may be inferred from the 
following prayer which will be found in an extract from the 
Ritual of Pope Paul the Fifth, for the use of England, Ireland 
and Scotland. It begins : 

" Bless, O Lord ! we beseech thee, this, thy creature of eggs, 
that it may become a wholesome sustenance to thy faithful 
servants eating it in thankfulness to thee, on account of the 
Resurrection of the Lord." 

This custom still prevails also, we learn, in the Greek 
church. In his "Travels in Asia Minor," Dr. Chandler gives 
us this account of the manner of celebrating Easter among tlie 
modern Greeks : " The Greeks now celebrated Easter. A small 
bier, prettily decked with orange and citron buds, jassamine, ' 
flowers and boughs, was placed in the clnuch with a Christ 
crucified, rudely painted on board, for the body. We saw it in 
the evening, and before day-break were suddenly awakened by 
the blaze and crackling of a large bonfire, with singing and 
shouting, in honor of the Resurrection. Tliey made us presents 
of colojired eggs and cakes of Easter bread. 

Easter Day is set apart for visiting in Russia, the Abbe 
d'Auteoroche says in his "Journeys through Siberia," and 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 35 

described his experience thus: "A Russian came into my 
room, offered me his hand, and gave me, at the same time, an 
egg. Another followed, who also embraced and gave me an 
egg. I gave him, in return, tlie egg which I had just before 
received. The men go to each, other's houses in the morning 
and introduce themselves by saying: ' Jesus Christ is risen.' 
The answer is: 'Yes, He is risen.' The people then em- 
brace," he adds quaintly, "give each other eggs and drink a 
a great deal of brandy." 

That this custom has varied little, is shown by the following 
extract from Hakluyt's Voyages, which is of an older date: 

" They (the Russians,)" he says, "have an order at Easter 
which they always observe, and that is this: Every yeere, 
against Easter, to die or colour red, with Brazzel (Brazilwood), 
a great number of egges, of which every man and woman 
giveth one unto the priest of the parish upon Easter Day in 
the morning. And, moreover, the common people use to carrie 
in their hands one of these red egges, not only upon Easter 
Day, but also three or foure days after, and gentlemen and 
gentlewomen have egges gilded, which they carrie in like 
manner. They use it, as they say, for a great love, and in 
token of the Resurrection, whereof they rejoice. For when 
two friends meete during the Easter Holydays, they come and 
take one another by the hand; then one of them saith: 'The 
Lord, or Christ, is risen;' the other answereth: • It is so of a 
truth;' and then they kiss and exchange their egges, both men 
and women, continuing in kissing foure days together." 

The writer, by this last phrase, intended to convey simply, 
we may assume, that this ceremony of exchanging eggs and 
greetings was kept up for four days. 

Further on we hear that in Germany, instead of eggs at 
Easter, an emblematical print is sometimes presented. One' 
of these is preserved in the print-room of the British Museum 
to-day, and is thus described by Brand: 

"Three Huns are represented as upholding a basket in 
which are placed three eggs ornamented with representations 
illustrative of the Resurrection. Over the centre egg, the 



36 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

Agmis Dei, with a chalice representing Faith; the other eggs 
bearing the emblems of Charity and Hope. Beneath all are 
the following lines: 

Alle gute ding seynd drey 
Drumb schenk dir drey Oster Ey 
Glaub und Hoffnung sambt der Leib 
Niemalls auss dem Herzen schleb 
Glaub der Kirch, Vertran auf Gott, 
Liebe Ihn biss im den todt. 

Translated, it reads: 

All good things are three, 

Therefore I present you three Easter eggs. 

Faith and Hope, together with Charity 

Never lose from the Heart 

Faith to the Church; Hope in God, 

And love him to thy death. 

With us, this pretty custom of hunting and exchanging eggs 
has been relegated to tht children, although a semblance of 
the tradition is still retained by grown people, in the presenta- 
tion at this season of dainty bonbonnieres shaped like eggs 
and filled with sweets. 

After the hunt for the eggs, which is not confined by 
any means to the children of the household, as usually they 
have little friends to assist in this pastime, come games, and 
in these the elder members of the family will often join. 

In the Seventeenth Century we are told how 

Young men and maids 

Now very brisk. 
At barley-break and 

Stool-ball frisk. 

These and similar games, however, have given way to the 
more familiar "Hide and Seek," "Puss in the Corner," etc., 
where children are concerned, while sedentary pastimes or 
dancing are indulged in by grown people. 

Were time and space unlimited, how pleasant it would be to 
discuss May festivals, already touched upon in an earlier 
number of the Library; the Feast of St. John the Baptist and 
other mid-summer holidays. As it is, however, we must pass 
them by and hasten on to the season of Halloween, when in- 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 37 

door diversions are once more the order of the day. 

The exercises of this particular festival are not confined by 
any means to the house, for in his poem, so graphically de- 
scribing All Saint's Eve, Burns tells us: 

Upon the night, when fairies light 

On Cassilis Downans dance. 
Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze, 

On sprightly coursers prance; 
Or for Colean the rout is ta'en. 

Beneath the moon's pale beams; 
There, up the cove, to stray an' rove 

Amang the rocks and streams 

To sport the night. 

Amang the bonnie winding banks 

Where Doon rins, wimplin, clear. 
Where Bruce ance rul'd the martial ranks, 

And shook his Carrick spear. 
Some merry, friendly, countra folks 

Together did convene, 
To burn their nits an' pon their stocks, 

An' hand their Halloween 

Fu' blythe that night. 

The lasses feat, an' cleanly neat, 

Mair braw than when they're fine; 
Their faces blythe, fu' sweetly kythe, 

Hearts leal, an' warm an' kin'; 
The lads sae trig, wi' wooer-babs, 

Neat knotted on their garten. 
Some unco blate an' some wi' gabs, 

Gar lasses' hearts gang startin' 

While fast at night* 



Following these bright opening stanzas the poet continues •- 
in verse to tell of the various practices of the night, adding for 
the benefit of those not familiar with Scotch dialect, or who 
may desire a more elaborate description, foot notes in prose, 
explaining the various rites. 

I. He begins: " The first ceremony of Halloween is, pulling 
each a stock or plant or kail. They must go out hand-in-hand, 
with eyes shut and pull the first they meet with; its being big 
or little, straight or crooked, is prophetic of the size of the 



38 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

grand object of all these spells — the husband or wife. If any 
gird or earth sticks to the root, that is a tocher or fortune; and 
the taste of the custoc, the heart of the stem, is indicative of 
the natural temper and disposition. Lastly, the stems, or to 
give them their ordinary appellations, the runts, are placed 
somcM'here above the head of the door, and the Christian 
names of the people w^hom chance brings into the house are, 
according to the priority of placing the runts, the names in 
question." 

After this are a number of more or less familiar rites, of 
which I will quote several: 

2. " Burning the nuts is a famous charm. They name the lad 
and lass to each particular nut as they lay them in the fire, and 
accordingly as they burn quietly together, or start from beside 
one another, the course and issue of the courtships will be." 
In verse he says: 

The auld guidwife's weel hoardest nits 

Are round and round divided, 
And monie lads' and lasses' fates | 

Are there that night decided: ' 

Some kindle, courthie, side by side, 

An' burn thegither trimly; 
Some start awa' wi' saucy pride, 

And jump out owre the chlmlie 

Fu' high that night. 

3. According to another spell: "Whosoever would, with 
success, try this spell, must strictly observe these directions: 
Steal out. all alone, to the kiln, and darkling, throw into the 
pot a clue of blue yarn; wind it in a clue off the old one, and 
toward the latter end, something will hold the thread, demand 
" Wha hands?" [i. e., who holds), an answer will be returned 
from the kiln pot, naming the Christian and surname of your 
future spouse " 

4. " Take three dishes; put clean water in one, foul water 
in another and leave the third empty; blindfold a person and 
lead him to the hearth where the dishes are ranged, he (or 
she) dips the left hand; if, by chance, in the clean Avater, 
the future (husband or) wife will come to the bans of matri- 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 39 

mony a (bachelor or) maid; if in the foul — soapy water a 
(widower or) widow; if in the empty dish, it foretells, with 
equal certainty, no marriage at all. It is repeated three times, 
and every time the arrangement of the dishes is different." 

5. "Bobbing for apples is also a time-honored and very 
amusing rite. It is, perhaps, as popular as any, and certainly 
has a charm of its own which never fails to interest and delight 
all who take part in it. It is described as follows: Drop a 
dozen red apples into a tub nearly full of water, the tub having 
been previously placed on a table. Folding his hands behind 
his back the diver leans over the tub and chases an apple 
about in the tub until it can be bitten and held aloft in the 
mouth." 

This is dithcultof accomplishment, for the apples are smooth, 
hard and, consequently, slippery, and the teeth can scarcely 
get a firm enough " purchase " to retain their hold on it. It 
can be done, however, and meantime, one's fate is, so to speak 
suspended, as until he can get the apple, he is doomed to spend 
his life alone. 

6. Finally, there is the rite, especially dear to the heart of 
the romantic girl and which is as universally practiced as any, 
perhaps. In this she is bid to take a candle and go alone to a 
looking glass, where she will stand and eat an apple. Accord- 
ing to tradition, in the unoccupied hand, the maiden should 
hold a comb with which she combs her hair while eating the 
apple while thus occupied, say some, while others declare, 
when the apple is eaten, the hair combed smooth and the 
candle being dim, the face of her lover and future husband 
will be seen in the glass looking over her shoulder. 

There are, of course, many other ceremonies connected with 
this evening, such as nut shell boats, snap dragons, etc., etc.; 
but those cited above will furnish amusement for the first part 
of the entertainment, and after supper, the hostess and her 
guests will doubtless be glad to vary the exercises with dancing 
or some well-known games. 

Thanksgiving, which is with us a distinctly national — one 
might go further ard state, indeed, a New England festival — 



40 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

for it is not generally observed in the South, brings us near the 
Christmas holidays again, for it occurs always toward the end 
of November, and thus ends appropriately, the twelve-month 
round of diversion. 

In New England it was formerly made more of than Christ- 
mas, this latter being in the early days almost ignored by the 
stern Puritans' descendants. 

Like Christmas, it is essentially a day of family reunion, and 
the various branches of the scattered household will journey 
from near and afar to meet again under the parent roof-tree. 

In families where there are children, especially in the 
country, there is an early dinner at which great and small are 
present; for on this occasion formalities and ceremonies are 
abolished, and the little ones gather with their elders round 
the festive board. 

Sometimes long walks, drives or sleigh-rides, according to 
the season's progress toward winter, succeed the bounteous 
repast, but when the twilight has deepened into night, the cur- 
tains are drawn and lamps lighted, there is a natural demand 
for amusement and games are called for. 

Formerly, apples were considered an essential part of every 
entertainment, and in the long evenings following the dinner, 
w^hen neighbors by chance, or in answer to invitation, would 
*' drop in," they were in great requisition. As the hours went 
by, we are told, a foaming dish of egg-nog would be brought 
in, always with a red-hot poker inserted, for the purpose of 
keeping up the proper temperature. Then, the apples having 
been properly named, with a fillip of the finger was divided, to 
decide the fate of the individual concerned, according to its 
number of seeds. 

Here is a rhyme used in New England at the beginning of 
this century. It is unchanged in a single word, save the 
omission of the last three lines : 

One, I love, 

Two, I love, 

Three, I love, I say ; 

Four, I love with all my heart, 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES, 4I 

And five, I cast away. 
Six, he loves, 
Seven, she loves. 
Eight, they both love. 
Nine, he comes, 
Ten, he tarries, 
Eleven, he courts, 
Twelve, he marries, 
Thirteen, wishes, 

Fourteen, kisses — ■ 
All the rest little witches. 

CONUNDRUMS* 

1. Why is life the greatest of riddles ? 
Answer — Because we must all give it up. 

2. What word becomes shorter by adding a syllable to it ? ■ 
Answer — Short. 

3. Why is a pig a paradox ? 

Answer — Because it is killed first and cured afterward. 

4. Of what color is grass when covered with snow ? 
Answer — Invisible green. 

5. What is even better than presence of mind in a railway accident? 
Answer — Absence of body. 

6. What is that which will give a cold, cure a cold and pay the doctor's 
bill? 

Answer — A draught (draft). 

7. Why is the letter G like the sun ? 

Answer — Because it is the centre of light. 

8. What is that from which the whole may be taken and yet some remain ? 
Answer — The word wholesome. 

9. Why is blindman's buff like sympathy ? 

Answer — Because it is a fellow feeling for another. 

10. Why need France never fear an inundation ? 
Answer — Because the water in France is Veau. 

THE GAME OF TWENTY QUESTIONS. 

One of the party leaves the room, and the others, in his 
absence, agree upon some subject which he is to guess, or 
rather, discover by successive questions. 



42 DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 

He is allowed only twenty questions, which, with one excep- 
tion must be of a character as to call for an answer in one 
word, afHrmative or negative (Yes or No). 

The exception is: "Is it animal, vegetable or mineral ?" 

This is generally asked as a first question. 

It would seem, at first sight, that in view of the absolutely 
infinite range of subjects from which to chose, the position of 
questioner would be a difficult one to fill, but this is not alto- 
gether the case. 

If the questioner is ordinarily acute in his perceptions and 
knows something of the art of putting questions, descending 
from the general to the particular, thus narrowing the field of 
conjecture at each successive stage, success is more apt than 
not to be the result. A really skilful interrogator can often 
accomplish his task with several questions still remaining to 
his credit. 

Take the familiar example, Oliver Cromwell ' 

The game begins and proceeds as follows: 

Q. — "Is the subject you have thought of, animal, vegetable 
or mineral ?" 

A. — "Animal." 



— " Is it a human being?" 

-"Yes." 
— " Is it male?" 
—"Yes." 

— ."Did he live in the Christian era?" 
•—"Yes." 

— "Prior to the reign of William the Conqueror?" 
—"No." 
— " Before the reign of Elizabeth ?" 

— "Yes." 

— " In the reign of Charles the First !" 

—"Yes." 

— "Was he Puritan?" 

—"Yes." 

— " Was he a man of action ?" 

— "Yes." 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 43 

Q. — "Was he a member of Cromwell's Parliament?" 

A. — "Yes." 

Q. — " Was he a soldier ?" 
^._"Yes." 

Q. — "Was he above the rank of captain?" 

^._..Yes." 

Q. — "Above the rank of Colonel?" 

^._<<Yes." 

Q. — "Above the rank of General ?" 

A. — "Yes." 

Q. — "Is it Cromwell himself?" 

^._.<Yes." 

Fifteen questions have sufficed to discover this subject, and 
even fewer would have done it. 

Sometimes the game is varied, and incidentally made easier, 
by allowing two, three or even four answers requiring more 
than one word, or if only one, a word more definite than 
yes or no. 

This game naturally allows of great amplification, as it is 
not by any means confined to one particular form of subject; 
on the contrary, this may be made according to the fancy of 
the company, material, immaterial, real or imaginary, under 
which headings will follow naturally, classifications, such as 
general, particular, complex, historical, fictitious, mythologi- 
cal, etc. ... 

CHRONOGRAMS. 

A chronogram, as doubtless many of my readers know, is a 
sentence or inscription in which occur words which contain as 
initial letters, or otherwise, letters that represent the Roman 
numbers. 

In some chronograms only the initial letters are counted as 
forming the solution of the puzzle; in others again, all the 
letters therein contained which may be used in Roman numbers 
are taken into account. 

History has furnished a number of fine chronograms. It was 



44 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 



indeed, the custom once, to strike medals with chronogram, 
matic sentences in which the date and occasion therein com- 
memorated was set forth by the initial letter of the super- 
scription. 

I will write one here from " Fireside Fun " : 

Queen Elizabeth died in 1603, and the following chrono- 
gram relating to that event has come down to us: 
" My Day is Closed in Immortality." 

The initial letters of this sentence are: 

M = iooo; D==5oo; I=i; C=ioo: I=i; I = i, or, 
MDCIII. 



PUZZLE. 

A poet who in blindness wrote 1 

His work of greatest fame. ) 

Another who, in Charles's reign , 

Did make himself a name. ) 

Then he who's often Father called > 

Of our English poetry. J 

The far West claims this modern bard 1 

So rich in symphony. ) 

The scolding wife of Socrates 1 

Her name you surely know. f 

The prince of Latin poets last 1 

We call on you to show. f 



Milton. 



Dryden. 



Chaucer. 



Longfellow. 



Xantippe. 



Virgil. 



The initials of these names j^ou'll find 

In order written down, 
Will give the date in which the plague 

Did rage in London town. 

Answer: MDCLXV; or 1665. 

Finally, under the head of "Guessing Stories" are found a 
series of bright enigmas, of which two or three are quoted 
here. 

These, it may be incidentally observed, are attributed to 
Charles James Fox. 



DRAWING ROOM GAMES. 45 

Formed long ago, yet made to-day; 

And most employed when others sleep; 

What few would like to give away, 

And fewer still to keep. 

Answer: A Bed. 

You eat me, you drink me, describe me who can, 
For I'm sometimes a woman and sometimes a man. 

Answer; A Toast. 

Space has its limits, one and all must admit, when placed 
between two covers, and lest, therefore, I should overstep the 
boundary, I will close these pages, hoping, at least, that at the 
various seasons their contents will help furnish an hour's 
amusement here and there to the reader. 



^^ 



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Spalding's 
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Score cards, bristol board, Per 100, |,50 

Score books and rules, Per dozen, ,75 

A. G, Spalding &; Bros., New York, p^'if^Sefil)^. 



fine £awtt Cennis $upplie$; 



WRIGHT & DITSON, t 

BOSTON, MASS. J 

Headquarters for Everything ^ 

Pertaining to Atliletics«^;^«^ ^ 

!^^^ Wright & Ditson's 4 

/%J2^^ Championship Tennis Ball ^ 

'^^^^^^mm\ Adopted by all the leading Associations ^ 

dmpion^/pf^^ in the United States and Canada. «| 

^^^^ The Pirn Campbell and Sears «| 

^ Racket Rackets * 

^ is used by all the leading players. are more popular than ever.'^ 

% We are the Leaders for. . . to^clubs^^'^^^Ji 

|l Foot Ball Supplies t 

¥ <^ «i 

^ It 

^ REGULATION RUGBY FOOT BALLS,^.^ 4 

U CANVAS JACKETS AND PANTS J 

%i MOLESKIN PANTS ^ 

U JOHN F, MORRILL'S NOSE MASK, ETC. J 

IJ SEND FOR FOOT BALL AND GENERAL CATALOGUE. J 
^ SPECIAL RATES TO CLUBS. J| 

I WRIGHT & DITSON, It 

J 344 Washington St. BOSTON, MASS.* 



THE 5F/ILDINQ 

Dome jetercteer. 




A practical, simple and efficient Home Exerciser, and one spacially adapted 
for ladies and children, but at the same time can be profitably used by the 
•trongest athlete. It is readily attached to door frame, window casing or 
any convenient place in room; is absolutely noiseless and takes up very 
little space. 

A hook top and bottom is all that is required to suspend it, and it can be 
quickly removed when not in use, and as readily replaced. 

The variety of exercise this little apparatus is capable of is simple endless, 
And permits of the uniform development of the muscles instead of the uneven 
one so common to all the usual home exercises. Our Manual No. 29, on 
Physical Culture (price, postpaid, 10 cents), will give many valuable hints 
as to the most beneficial exercises, and by simply reversing the apparatus, 
all the lower movements shown may be adapted to this outfit- 
No. I , Single strength elastic cords $ | .QO 

No. 2« Double strength clastic cords 2.00 

Our complete Illustrated Catalogue of all athletic sports, uniforms and 
gymnasium goods for home use mailed free to any address. 

A. Q. SPALDING & BROS., 

NEW YORK. CHICAQO. PHILADELPHIA. 




f'^ 



i 



£bildren'$ Games 




By n. Bowara gaay 






^4^ PUBLISHED BY Jt--A. 

241 BROAD\?SY /SEVf' VORK^ 

ENTE-RED AT THE AIEW YORK POST OFnCE-./NY, A3 .SECOND ClAii nATTPR.- 





spalding's 
Bicycle Sundries. 




We carry a complete lin 
of Bicycle Sundries am 
shall be pleased to sen6 
Catalogue on application. 

Lamps 
Bells 
Enamel 
Tire Cement 
Rubber Cement 
3 in 1 Compound 
**RR" Compound 
Illuminating Oil 
Lubricating Oil 
Repair Kits 
Cyclometers 
Bicycle Watches 
Cork Grips 
Oil Cans 



Trouser Guards 

Wrenches 

Chains 

Bundle Carriers 

Pumps 

Saddles 

Bicycle Stands 

Toe Clips 

Tool Bags 

Foot Brakes 

Whistles 

Screwdrivers 

In fact, everything which 
is of use to bicyclists. 




A. 0. SPALDINQ & BROS. ^^"^''S'hiiadeiphFa'"''^ 



^^^% 



Hnatomical SabMe 



THE phenom- 
enalsuccess 
of the Christy 
Saddle should be 
its greatest en- 
dorsement. It 
has fully met 
the universal de- 
mand for a hygi- 
enic saddle built 
on true anatomi- 
cal principles, 
and has received 
the endorsement 




Men's Saddle 



of thousands of physicians throughout the country, who 
have bought it for their own use and recommended it to 
their patients. 

The Christy Saddle is made with flat and spiral 
springs. For women riders we especially recommend the 
latter and shall always supply it unless otherwise ordered. 

For those who 
desire a more 
rigid seat Ave 
have continued 
the Flat Spring 
model, which 
has given the 
best of satisfac- 
tion to the ma- 
jority of riders 
Women's WS^^^ '^^^^ prefer that 

Saddle W^^^ ^^y^^' jt 

M^ Handsome Booklet, " Bicycle Saddles, from a Physician's Stand- 
^ point," mailed free. 

A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York Chicago Philadelphia "Washington 




# 



SPALDING'S 

Official Basket Ball Goods. 




Frederic B. Pratt, Charles E. Patterson, Luther Gulick,M.D., 
Chair7nan. Treasurer, Secretary, 

The Athletic League of Young Men's Christian 
Associations of North America. 

40 East Twenty-third Street, 
New York City. 

Springheld, Mass., Sept 9, 1896 

Messrs. A. G. Spalding & Bros., 

^earSirs: I am authorized to inform 
you that the Governing Committee of the 
Athletic League has decided to adopt your 
Basket Ball and Goal as the Ojjicial basket 
^all and Goal for the coming year; and 
also to request you to publish the official 
basket ball rules. 

I am, sincerly yours» 

LUTHER GULICK, 

Secretary, 



A, G. SPALDING & BROS. 

New York. Chicaj;o. Pbiladelphia 



4 '<'%Jt'^'^^jt^t^'^%^['^Hi'1^r^'^Q%r*j'<^ 






I ATHLETIC GOODS 




Spalding's Vaulting Poles. 

Selected 5pruce. 

No. lOOo 8 feet long, 

No. 101. lo feet long, 

No. 102. 12 feet long, 

No. 103. 14 feet long. 



$3.00 
4.00 
5.00 
6.00 



Spalding's 
Regulation 56=lb. Weights. 

With the Famous Mitchel Handle. 




^ ^ 



The handles furnished with our 56-lb. weights are the same as used and 
designed by Mr. J. S. Mitchel, the Champion Weight Thrower of America, 
who has given us exclusive right to use his name In connection with the 
above handles. Each weight is i^ut in box, complete, with two sets of 
handles, for one or two hands 

No. I. Iron 56-lb. weights, complete, . . . $8.00 
No. 2. Lead 56-lb. weights, complete, . . . iO.OO 

COMPLETE CATALOGUE FREE, 

^ ^ ^ 

A. G. SPALDING & BROS., 

New York. Chicago. Philadelphia. 





^^^:flS^^% ■i^^sS^^^ -C^fe**^^^ 

THE 

SPALDING 

OFFICIAL 

LEAGUE 

BALL 



Is the 

Officially 

Adopted 

Ball 

of all the 

Leadingf 

Leagues and 

Associations 





^^ SPALDING 



ft 



When Stamped on Athletic Goods or Bicycles 

means 

SUPERIORITY 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 
^ Oiicago New York Philadelphia Washington 

^^^^S^^^^j: ^^^^^""^m^ (f^^^^=^^ 





u 



tbe Spalding" (Uood €lub$ 



Are made by Scotch and English club-makers and are 
entirely hand-made. The heads are made from the very 
best selected and seasoned dogfwood^ persimmon and com- 
pressed hickory. The compressed clubs are faced with the 
very best English leather. The shafts are made from the 
very best selected At white, second-growth hickory, 
well seasoned* These clubs are guaranteed perfect as to 
shape, lie and weights, while the finish is the best«^ e^ 

''tbc Spaiaittd'' lUood Golf Clubs are as follows: 

BULGERS BRASSIE BULGERS 

DRIVERS BRASSIE DRIVERS 
STRAIGHT FACED BULGERS STRAIGHT FACED 

BAPS BRASSIE BULGERS 

LONG SPOONS BRASSIE BAPS 

MEDIUM SPOONS BRASSIE NIBLICS 

SHORT SPOONS BRASSIE SPOONS 

PUTTERS BAFFY SPOONS 

All styles. Each, $2X0 

In "THE SPALDING" grade we make an endless variety of patterns 
of either wood or iron, which we keep at all times in stock, a few of which 
we give above. We can also duplicate any special patterns in any quantity 
within ten days. 

UnbreaKaWe feature of our Clubs 

WE wish to draw particular attention to the unbreakable quality 
of our clubs. It is an impossibility to break them at the neck. 
We have been experimenting for a long time and have dis- 
covered a process Avhich, although it increases the cost of making a 
head nearly 50 per cent., leaves it practically unbreakable. If placed 
in a vise and repeatedly struck with a hammer the neck can be bent 
over, and by twisting back and forth can be separated from the head, 
but it is impossible to break one with any kind of a direct blow. In 
a recent test made by a well-known professional, it required all his 
strength with a large hammer to bend the neck sufficient to separate 
it from the head. 

...CATALOGUE OF ALL SPORTS FREE... 



A. G. SPALDING & BROS. 

NEW YORK CHICAGO PHILADELPHIA WASHINGTON 



(f="^^s>^^'='*<s^^ (1^=^^^^% r'^^5>.=j>Q«^^!tjr^ 



s 



^ 



f 






Bottle Ctbrary 

PUBLISHED MONTHLY 

Devoted to Games and Pastimes 
of interest to the Home Circle«^ 



t^-^i 



1. Chess 

2. Whist 

3. Dominoes and Dice 

4. Poker 

5. Backgammon 

6. Euchre 

7. Billiards 

8. Ecarte 

9. Checkers 

10. Bezique 

11. Pool 

12. Pinochle 



13. Loto 

14. Hearts 

15. Re vers! 

16. Piquet 

17. Go=Bang 

18. Games of Patience 

19. Children's Games 

20. Cribbage 

21. Drawing Room Games 

22. Group of Card Games 

23. Children's Games 

24. Group of Card Games 



25. Drawing Room Games 
PRICE W CENTS 




Jitttericat! Sports Publtsbittg £o- 

241 Broadway, new VorR 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




spaldingOJ20 237 480 








Athletic Library 

No. Published Monthly 

2. Indian Clubs and Dumb Bells. 

4. How to Become a Boxer. 

5. Gymnastics. [Campbell.' 

6. How to Play Lawn Tennis. By Champion 

7. How to Play Base Ball. Just the thing foi 

Boys. By Walter Camp. 
9. The Athlete's Guide. How to Run, Sprint,' 
Jump, Walk, and Throw Weights. 

12. Association Foot Ball. 

13. Hand Ball. 

14. Curling, Hockey and Polo. 

16. Skating. A very practical book. By Champion' 
18. Fencing. [Geo. D. Phillips. 

20. Cricket Guide. By Geo. Wright. ■ 

21. Rowing. By E. J. Giannini, Champion Amateur 
2'5. Canoeing. By C. Bowser Vaux. [Oarsman, i 

25. Swimming. By Walter G. Douglas. 

26. How to Play Foot Ball. By Walter Camp. 

27. College Athletics. By M. C. Murphy. [son. 

29. Exercising with Pulley Weights. H. S. Ander- 

30. How to Play Lacrosse. By W. H. Corbett. 
32. Practical Ball Playing. By Arthur A. Irwin. 
S7. All Around Athletics 

39 Lawn Bowls. By Henry Chadwick. 

40. Archery. By James S. Mitchel. 

42. How to Use the Punching Bag. 

55. Sporting Rules ; for discus throwing, etc. 

57. Official Roller Polo Guide for 1896-7. 

58. Bowling. Latest rules and regulations. 

60. Indoor Base Ball. 

61. Athletic Almanac for 1897. 

62. Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains. By 

Lieut. James A. Moss, U. S. A. 

63. Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide. 

64. Spalding's Lawn Tennis Annual. 

65. Intercollegiate A. A. A. A. Guide. 

66. Technical Terms of Base Ball. 

67. Rowing Guide. 

68. Official Croquet Guide. 

69. Official A. A. U. Rules. [Walter Camp.' 

70. Official Foot Ball Guide for 1897. Edited by 

71. Official Golf Guide. _ 

72. Physical Training Simplified. No Apparatus. 

73. Official Basket Ball Guide for 1897-8. 

74. Official Bicycle Guide. Instructions to cyclists; 

Portraits of all leading riders ; complete list of. 
records. 

Per Copy, 10 cents, postpaid. 

American Sports Publishing Co.,< 

241 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 



Holl 

pH 

Mill Rur 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



020 237 480 3 



